Bio

TRANSACTIONSReleased by Carolina (2/17/15)...Signed as a free agent by Carolina (4/11/14)...Released by Atlanta (3/11/14)...Signed to contract extension by Atlanta (3/7/12)...Selected in the third round (98th overall) of the NFL Draft by Atlanta (4/27/08).

2014Signed as a free agent by Carolina (4/11) after being released by Atlanta (3/11)...Played in 15 games with starts in 11 of the first 12 at free safety and was inactive for one game...Posted 46 tackles, one interception and two passes defensed...Contributed to unit that ranked 10th in the NFL in total defense...Notched five special teams tackles...Inactive with a hamstring injury versus New Orleans (10/30)...POSTSEASON: Inactive with an injured hamstring for NFC Wild Card versus Arizona (1/3) and played in NFC Divisional Playoff at Seattle (1/10)...Vs. Detroit (9/14): Batted away a pass by Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford deep in Carolina territory that was intercepted by cornerback Melvin White...At Baltimore (9/28): Compiled a season-high eight tackles...Vs. Chicago (10/5): Intercepted a pass by quarterback Jay Cutler and returned it 35 yards into Bears territory to set up the game-tying field goal...At Minnesota (11/30): Played in 100th career game.

2013Started 15 games at free safety for Atlanta...Notched 83 tackles, three passes defensed and one fumble recovery, which was returned for a touchdown...Logged two special teams tackles...Inactive with a concussion versus Washington (12/15)...Vs. Tampa Bay (10/20): Scored first career touchdown on a 30-yard return of a fumble by Buccaneers quarterback Mike Glennon...Vs. New Orleans (11/21): Accumulated a season-high 10 tackles.

2012Started 16 games at free safety for Atlanta...Finished first on the team with a career-high six interceptions...Registered 89 tackles, one sack, nine passes defensed and one fumble recovery...Key member of defense that rated fifth the NFL in points allowed and tied for fifth in takeaways...POSTSEASON: Started NFC Divisional Playoff versus Seattle (1/13) and NFC Championship versus San Francisco (1/20)...Tallied 11 tackles and two passes defensed...HONORS: Selected to first career Pro Bowl...Vs. Denver (9/17): Pilfered Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning for an interception and returned it 15 yards to put Falcons in position for a field goal...At San Diego (9/23): Generated three takeaways with one fumble recovery and two interceptions...Recovered a fumble by Chargers running back Ryan Mathews at the Falcons' four-yard line to foil a Chargers scoring chance in the second quarter...Picked off Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers in the second and third quarters, setting up a touchdown with first heist...At Washington (10/7): Sealed win with interception of Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins with 1:05 remaining in the game...At Philadelphia (10/28): Blitzed Eagles quarterback Michael Vick for a two-yard sack...Vs. New Orleans (11/29): Seized a pass by Saints quarterback Drew Brees at the goal line for an interception...Vs. New York Giants (12/16): Interception of Giants quarterback Eli Manning resulted in a touchdown.

2011Played in 16 games with 15 starts at free safety for Atlanta...Compiled more than 100 tackles for the third consecutive season with 109, which topped all Falcons defensive backs...Led the team with four interceptions to go along with six passes defensed...Added one special teams tackle...Did not start versus Philadelphia (9/18)...POSTSEASON: Started NFC Wild Card at the New York Giants (1/8)...Made nine tackles...At Tampa Bay (9/25): Stopped a Buccaneers scoring threat with an interception of quarterback Josh Freeman in the end zone...At Seattle (10/2): Thwarted a Seahawks scoring opportunity by picking off quarterback Tarvaris Jackson in the end zone...Vs. Carolina (10/16): Ended Panthers final possession with an interception of quarterback Cam Newton...At Houston (12/4): Matched single-game career high with 13 tackles...Vs. Jacksonville (12/15): Swiped a pass by Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert for an interception.

2010Started 16 games at free safety for Atlanta...Tied career high and ranked second on the team with 113 tackles...Posted one interception, four passes defensed and two forced fumbles...POSTSEASON: Started NFC Divisional Playoff versus Green Bay (1/15)...Had four tackles...At New Orleans (9/26): Picked off Saints quarterback Drew Brees...Takeaway converted into a touchdown...Vs. Green Bay (11/28): Forced a fumble by Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings...At Carolina (12/12): Equaled single-game career high with 13 tackles...Vs. Carolina (1/2): Caused a fumble by Panthers running back Mike Goodson.

2009Started 16 games at free safety for Atlanta...Recorded a career-high 113 tackles, two sacks, three interceptions, seven passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery...PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week for performance in Week 6 versus Chicago (10/18)...Produced eight tackles, two interceptions and two passes defensed in Falcons' 21-14 win...Vs. Carolina (9/20): Recovered a fumble by Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams to set up a touchdown...Vs. Chicago (10/18): Established a single-game career high with two interceptions of Bears quarterback Jay Cutler...Theft in the first quarter halted a Bears drive inside the red zone...Pick in the second quarter resulted in a touchdown...At Dallas (10/25): Amassed a single-game career-high 13 tackles...Victimized Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo for first career sack, dropping him for an eight-yard loss...At New Orleans (11/2): Sacked Saints quarterback Drew Brees for a 10-yard loss and caused a fumble on the play...Falcons fell on the loose ball in the end zone for a touchdown...At New York Jets (12/20): Intercepted a pass by Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez that led to a field goal...At Tampa Bay (1/3): Forced a fumble by Buccaneers running back Cadillac Williams.

2008Drafted in the third round (98th overall) by Atlanta...Played in 10 games, did not play in one game and was inactive for five games...Contributed five special teams tackles...POSTSEASON: Played in NFC Wild Card at Arizona (1/3).

COLLEGEPlayed in 45 games with 16 starts at California...Totaled 198 tackles, one sack, one interception, seven passes defensed, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in addition to blocking six kicks...2007 (Sr.): All-Pac-10 Conference honorable mention...Played in 13 games with 12 starts...Led the Bears with 116 tackles to go along with one sack, one interception, four passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery...2006 (Jr.): Named the team's most improved player...Played in 11 games with four starts...Recorded 45 tackles and three passes defensed...Blocked a kick against UCLA that was returned for a touchdown...2005 (So.): Played in 11 games...Posted 28 tackles...2004 (Fr.): Played in 10 games...Notched nine tackles and one fumble recovery...Blocked an extra point attempt against Southern Mississippi that was returned for a defensive PAT...2003: Redshirted as a true freshman.

PERSONALAttended Pinole (Calif.) Valley High School...Majored in interdisciplinary studies at California...Last name is pronounced Day-Coo.

TRANSACTIONSReleased by Carolina (2/17/15)...Signed as a free agent by Carolina (4/11/14)...Released by Atlanta (3/11/14)...Signed to contract extension by Atlanta (3/7/12)...Selected in the third round (98th overall) of the NFL Draft by Atlanta (4/27/08).

2014Signed as a free agent by Carolina (4/11) after being released by Atlanta (3/11)...Played in 15 games with starts in 11 of the first 12 at free safety and was inactive for one game...Posted 46 tackles, one interception and two passes defensed...Contributed to unit that ranked 10th in the NFL in total defense...Notched five special teams tackles...Inactive with a hamstring injury versus New Orleans (10/30)...POSTSEASON: Inactive with an injured hamstring for NFC Wild Card versus Arizona (1/3) and played in NFC Divisional Playoff at Seattle (1/10)...Vs. Detroit (9/14): Batted away a pass by Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford deep in Carolina territory that was intercepted by cornerback Melvin White...At Baltimore (9/28): Compiled a season-high eight tackles...Vs. Chicago (10/5): Intercepted a pass by quarterback Jay Cutler and returned it 35 yards into Bears territory to set up the game-tying field goal...At Minnesota (11/30): Played in 100th career game.

2013Started 15 games at free safety for Atlanta...Notched 83 tackles, three passes defensed and one fumble recovery, which was returned for a touchdown...Logged two special teams tackles...Inactive with a concussion versus Washington (12/15)...Vs. Tampa Bay (10/20): Scored first career touchdown on a 30-yard return of a fumble by Buccaneers quarterback Mike Glennon...Vs. New Orleans (11/21): Accumulated a season-high 10 tackles.

2012Started 16 games at free safety for Atlanta...Finished first on the team with a career-high six interceptions...Registered 89 tackles, one sack, nine passes defensed and one fumble recovery...Key member of defense that rated fifth the NFL in points allowed and tied for fifth in takeaways...POSTSEASON: Started NFC Divisional Playoff versus Seattle (1/13) and NFC Championship versus San Francisco (1/20)...Tallied 11 tackles and two passes defensed...HONORS: Selected to first career Pro Bowl...Vs. Denver (9/17): Pilfered Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning for an interception and returned it 15 yards to put Falcons in position for a field goal...At San Diego (9/23): Generated three takeaways with one fumble recovery and two interceptions...Recovered a fumble by Chargers running back Ryan Mathews at the Falcons' four-yard line to foil a Chargers scoring chance in the second quarter...Picked off Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers in the second and third quarters, setting up a touchdown with first heist...At Washington (10/7): Sealed win with interception of Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins with 1:05 remaining in the game...At Philadelphia (10/28): Blitzed Eagles quarterback Michael Vick for a two-yard sack...Vs. New Orleans (11/29): Seized a pass by Saints quarterback Drew Brees at the goal line for an interception...Vs. New York Giants (12/16): Interception of Giants quarterback Eli Manning resulted in a touchdown.

2011Played in 16 games with 15 starts at free safety for Atlanta...Compiled more than 100 tackles for the third consecutive season with 109, which topped all Falcons defensive backs...Led the team with four interceptions to go along with six passes defensed...Added one special teams tackle...Did not start versus Philadelphia (9/18)...POSTSEASON: Started NFC Wild Card at the New York Giants (1/8)...Made nine tackles...At Tampa Bay (9/25): Stopped a Buccaneers scoring threat with an interception of quarterback Josh Freeman in the end zone...At Seattle (10/2): Thwarted a Seahawks scoring opportunity by picking off quarterback Tarvaris Jackson in the end zone...Vs. Carolina (10/16): Ended Panthers final possession with an interception of quarterback Cam Newton...At Houston (12/4): Matched single-game career high with 13 tackles...Vs. Jacksonville (12/15): Swiped a pass by Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert for an interception.

2010Started 16 games at free safety for Atlanta...Tied career high and ranked second on the team with 113 tackles...Posted one interception, four passes defensed and two forced fumbles...POSTSEASON: Started NFC Divisional Playoff versus Green Bay (1/15)...Had four tackles...At New Orleans (9/26): Picked off Saints quarterback Drew Brees...Takeaway converted into a touchdown...Vs. Green Bay (11/28): Forced a fumble by Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings...At Carolina (12/12): Equaled single-game career high with 13 tackles...Vs. Carolina (1/2): Caused a fumble by Panthers running back Mike Goodson.

2009Started 16 games at free safety for Atlanta...Recorded a career-high 113 tackles, two sacks, three interceptions, seven passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery...PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week for performance in Week 6 versus Chicago (10/18)...Produced eight tackles, two interceptions and two passes defensed in Falcons' 21-14 win...Vs. Carolina (9/20): Recovered a fumble by Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams to set up a touchdown...Vs. Chicago (10/18): Established a single-game career high with two interceptions of Bears quarterback Jay Cutler...Theft in the first quarter halted a Bears drive inside the red zone...Pick in the second quarter resulted in a touchdown...At Dallas (10/25): Amassed a single-game career-high 13 tackles...Victimized Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo for first career sack, dropping him for an eight-yard loss...At New Orleans (11/2): Sacked Saints quarterback Drew Brees for a 10-yard loss and caused a fumble on the play...Falcons fell on the loose ball in the end zone for a touchdown...At New York Jets (12/20): Intercepted a pass by Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez that led to a field goal...At Tampa Bay (1/3): Forced a fumble by Buccaneers running back Cadillac Williams.

2008Drafted in the third round (98th overall) by Atlanta...Played in 10 games, did not play in one game and was inactive for five games...Contributed five special teams tackles...POSTSEASON: Played in NFC Wild Card at Arizona (1/3).

COLLEGEPlayed in 45 games with 16 starts at California...Totaled 198 tackles, one sack, one interception, seven passes defensed, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in addition to blocking six kicks...2007 (Sr.): All-Pac-10 Conference honorable mention...Played in 13 games with 12 starts...Led the Bears with 116 tackles to go along with one sack, one interception, four passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery...2006 (Jr.): Named the team's most improved player...Played in 11 games with four starts...Recorded 45 tackles and three passes defensed...Blocked a kick against UCLA that was returned for a touchdown...2005 (So.): Played in 11 games...Posted 28 tackles...2004 (Fr.): Played in 10 games...Notched nine tackles and one fumble recovery...Blocked an extra point attempt against Southern Mississippi that was returned for a defensive PAT...2003: Redshirted as a true freshman.

PERSONALAttended Pinole (Calif.) Valley High School...Majored in interdisciplinary studies at California...Last name is pronounced Day-Coo.